FEBRUARY 16, 2015
LONGSTREET, DESOTO PARISH, LOUISIANA (KSLA)
Louisiana State Police have released the names of the
victims who died in a crash involving a truck and a train in DeSoto Parish.
According to LSP Tpr. Matt Harris, the 2001 Dodge Ram truck
was struck by the train on LA 5 just south of Longstreet just before 1 p.m.
Preliminary reports suggest that the driver, 23-year-old John Watson of
Centerville, LA, drove into the path of a southbound Union Pacific freight
train operated by 59-year-old Kenneth Charles of Humble, TX. The train struck the truck's driver's side
door and pushed the vehicle completely off the tracks.
Authorities say Watson as well as his passengers 24-year-old
Michael Ryder II of Golddonna, LA and 35-year-old Hebert Barras III of
Charenton, LA were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. Watson and Ryder were pronounced dead at the
scene by the DeSoto Parish Coroner and Barras remains in critical condition.
LifeAir was requested, but has been unable to fly due to
weather.
Police say a toxicology sample was taken from Watson to be submitted for analysis but impairment is not suspected in the crash.
Police say a toxicology sample was taken from Watson to be submitted for analysis but impairment is not suspected in the crash.
The wreck remains under investigation.